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What is the xlStart Directory ?

This directory can be used to store your global templates.

There are infact two folders which are always used as well as an optional alternative startup folder if you need it.

Any templates (or workbooks) that you save in any of these folder locations will be opened automatically when Excel starts.

If there are any workbooks in any of these folders then the blank default workbook will not be displayed.

xlStart - Machine Folders

The exact locations of the xlstart folders will depend on which version of Excel you are using.

Excel 2003 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 11\XLStart\

Excel 2002 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 10\XLStart\

Excel 2000 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\XLStart\

Excel 97 - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\XLStart\

xlStart - Personal folders

Excel 2003 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\

Excel 2002 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\

Excel 2000 - C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\

Windows NT 4.0 - C:\Winnt\Profiles\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\

Windows 95 and 98 - C:\Windows\Profiles\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\

Windows 95 and 98 - C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart\ (when user profiles are not enabled)

Excel 97 - There is no profile specific startup folder.

You cannot change any of the above folder locations but it is possible to use another folder as a startup directory.

Alternative Startup Folder

Any files in here are opened automatically in addition to those in the xlstart folder.

alternate startup folder: A folder in addition to the XLStart folder that contains workbooks or other files that you want opened automatically when you start Excel and templates that you want available when you create new workbooks.). The XLStart folder is usually C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\XLStart

It is possible to save your template to a different directory by changing the "save in" drop-down box. You must change the directory after you have changed the file type to "template (".xlt")".

If you want to load particular workbooks and add-ins when Excel starts up and do not want to use either of these folder locations you can use the "At start-up, open files in" folder location

(Tools > Options)(General tab)

In Excel 97 and Excel 2000 this used to be the "Alternate startup file location".

Things to Remember

The alternative startup location is often used to store custom add-ins or a workspace file that you will always want available or open every time you start Excel.

You can also save a workspace file into this folder if you want to open multiple workbooks automatically when Excel starts.